Dr. George Cassar (BA’62, MA’63) has been a university professor for more than five decades and is a leading expert on the history of the First World War, but before arriving at UNB he held little hope of an academic future.
“I was a very poor student in high school. I used to spend my afternoons in the pool hall instead of going to class.”
After a year or two of what he calls “dead-end jobs,” George arrived at UNB from his home in southern Quebec, and started on the trajectory that would become his life’s work. “I didn’t know how to study because I’d never studied before, and I didn’t know how to take notes because I’d never taken notes before.” He soon made friends within UNB’s close-knit student community who helped him hone these skills.
By his second year George was a straight-A student, and he discovered he had an excellent memory – a useful trait for his chosen major in history. The university’s small size offered an opportunity to know his professors personally, including the then-chair of history, Alfred G. Bailey (BA’27, DLitt’70). “Dr. Bailey was probably the best lecturer I ever had, anywhere. He was just a brilliant man. And I don’t know why, but he liked me.” Dr. Bailey offered George a scholarship to stay and complete a master’s degree at UNB, which he did.
Still not fully decided on what he would do with his life, George then moved on to McGill to pursue a PhD. “As friendly as UNB was, McGill was just the opposite. It was distant and cold.” Despite not enjoying his time there like he had his time at UNB, he credits his thesis director with helping set the course of his career by choosing George’s topic – a campaign in the First World War.
George’s teaching career began at Northern Michigan University. Within a few years he had moved on to teaching at Eastern Michigan University, and there he stayed for 50 years until his retirement in 2018. Retirement has not slowed his research, however – he is currently writing his sixteenth book.
George’s fondness for UNB brought him back to Fredericton for class reunions every five years, and he has given regular annual donations to his alma mater for a remarkable five decades. “I owe UNB a great deal, so I will continue to give regularly until I pass from the scene.” He has also established a bequest to create a scholarship after his passing.
Asked what he would say to his fellow alumni who might be considering a donation to UNB, George has this to say: “It’s a great university, full of opportunity – and Maritimers are just so friendly!”
